What Is Passion Fruit?
The native range of the exotic and tropical passion fruit extends from southern Brazil through Paraguay and northern Argentina. However, it does appear in the late summer in the southern United States. But in Hawaii, you can find passion fruit year-round.
The flesh of passion fruit can be a wide range of colors, depending on the variety. The most widely available type in the United States features a purple exterior and yellow flesh. Throughout this text, I will be referring to the most popular purple fruit.
What Does Passion Fruit Look Like?
Passion fruit often comes in two sizes and shapes, with the most popular being a little purple round or oval and a somewhat bigger yellow variety. They are not ready to eat if they are still green. They develop creases in their thick waxy peel as they ripen. The pulp contains both juice and tiny, crunchy seeds and has an orange hue.
What Are The Health Benefits Of Eating Passion Fruit?
The benefits of eating passion fruit are well-documented. It has few calories and is a great source of fiber. Half a cup of raw purple passion fruit has 12.5 grams of fiber.
Additionally, passion fruit is a good source of:
- Antioxidants
- Vitamin B
- Iron
- Protein
- Vitamin A
- Vitamin C
- Folate
- Magnesium
- Phosphorus
- Potassium
The systolic blood pressure and fasting blood glucose of persons with type 2 diabetes were shown to be lowered when they consumed purple passion fruit, as reported in a study published in the Journal of Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine.
Purple passion fruit peel extract shows promise as a non-pharmaceutical therapy for adult asthma, according to a study published in Nutrition Research. Adults with asthma experienced less wheezing, less shortness of breath, and less coughing after taking the extract, according to the study.
How to Tell if Passion Fruit is Ripe
The wrinkles on the skin are a great sign that it's ripe and ready to eat. If you want to utilize them, wait until they've started to wrinkle. Just leave it out at room temperature to ripen if the skin is smooth. Like the vast majority of other fruits, they won't ripen properly if stored in the fridge. (Once ripe, passion fruits can be stored in the fridge for up to a week.)
Pick a passion fruit that's a little weighty for its size.
How to Juice Passion Fruit?
You should cut the passion fruits in half. A serrated knife is my go-to for cutting through tough materials like these. Remove the pulp from the skin using a tiny spoon. The straining process will be greatly simplified if you first add it to a small pot and warm it on the stovetop. Use the back of a spoon to press down on the pulp and seeds if the juice isn't passing through.
The juice can be used in a wide variety of dishes at this point.
Where Can I Find Passion Fruit?
You can sometimes get passion fruit in grocery stores, but you'll have a better chance of finding it at a specialized market or a market specializing in Latin American and Caribbean foods (where it may be branded as "parcha" or "maracuya").
If you can't find the fruit itself but still want the pulp or juice, you might be able to buy it in the freezer department of a grocery store or specialty market. Passion fruit juice and concentrate can be found in the freezer department and the juice aisle. However, some of these products may contain other liquids or sweets.
How Do I Prepare Passion Fruit?
Passion fruits are sometimes easy to prepare and enjoy. First, the fruit must be washed and dried to get rid of any remaining pesticides or preservatives. Then you can simply cut it in half, remove the pulp with a spoon, and eat it (with or without sugar, as you choose). Some people appreciate a tangy flavor, while others find it off-putting. You should not scrape the white, bitter interior of the skin (like the pith of citrus fruit).
Remove the seeds if you're after the juice. The seeds can be extracted from the liquid pulp by pressing the pulp through a sieve. There won't be much yield, but it's a vital step if you plan to use the juice in cooking or any other way.
Finally, if you want the puree, you can make it by combining the seeds and juice in a blender and processing them into a puree. It's simpler than straining out all of the seeds, but the result will have a touch of crunch due to the inclusion of entire seeds.
Here Are A Few Things To Keep In Mind When Picking The Best Passion Fruit
A passion fruit that has turned purple can still be eaten, however, it may have a more sour flavor. Rough around the edges and colored dark purple, passion fruit is at its peak of sweetness and ripeness.
The unripe fruit has a greener appearance. Green fruit can mature and develop a pleasant flavor, although this is far less often. In any case, it's fine if the fruit is still green on the inside and just starting to turn brown on the outside. Allow the fruit to mature on the kitchen counter for a few days.
Pick out some dense fruit, too. This indicates that the fruit within is exceptionally juicy. Inadequate watering and severe weather can both cause fruit to drop from a vine. I've been known to cut open fruit only to find nothing inside. If the fruit is too light in weight, it will be a huge letdown.
Don't eat passion fruit that's too firm or has too many wrinkles. Most of the time, that signifies they are past their prime for eating. They go bad if you don't consume them right away. If you store them in the fridge for a week, they will remain at peak ripeness for the duration.
How to Eat Passionfruit?
Picking the Perfect Passion Fruit
Think about how the passion fruit's skin feels. Select ones with some wrinkles and a rich purple hue, as they are the ripest and most flavorful. Although it's preferable to purchase passion fruits that haven't been exposed to any pesticides, remember that the outside of the fruit isn't eaten and that the inside is what you'll be consuming. The more mature the fruit, the softer the shell.
You should give the passion fruit a good shake. Shake a passion fruit. Pressure or a wet sensation indicates a high concentration of seeds and fluid (meaning a lot of deliciousness to eat.) Find the one that has the most meat by comparing it to the others.
A passion fruit aroma greets you. One's sense of smell is just as useful for discerning a fruit's flavor. There should be enough exotic scents to indicate a pleasant flavor. If there's no aroma, it's generally extremely sour or has no flavor at all.
Washing and Cutting the Passion Fruit
Passion fruit washing is required. After you've gone out and bought some passion fruit, the first thing you should do is clean it. Even if you aren't planning on eating the skin, it's still a good idea to wash them well to remove any hazardous chemicals, bacteria, or bugs. This occurs when bacteria on the knife is transferred to the flesh of an unwashed passion fruit during preparation.
Peel the passion fruit. The passion fruit should be rinsed and then placed on a cutting board. Use a sharp knife to carefully halve the fruit. The skin of passion fruit is quite tough, thus it's recommended that you use a knife with serrated blades. Because the juice is so tasty, you should squeeze the fruit as little as possible before eating it.
Learn which foods are beneficial and which ones are harmful. Orange meat has been cut away from the white skin. Use a spoon or fork to remove the contents, and store them in a separate container (or directly into your mouth.) If you scrape off the white coating, it will be bitter and unpleasant to eat. Do not consume the rind
Save any leftover fruit by discarding the skin. Consider applying the skin as a mulching agent. If you haven't eaten all of your passion fruit yet, put what's left in a small bowl and cover it with plastic wrap to keep it from going bad. It's also possible to refrigerate the uncooked portion by covering it with plastic wrap.
Ideas for What to Do with Passion Fruit
Attempt to prepare passion fruit juice. It's possible that when ancient cultures talked about "the nectar of the gods," they were referring to passion fruit juice.
Why not try your hand at preparing some passion fruit margaritas or martinis? Rather than settling for just passion fruit juice, why not go all out and create drinks so delicious they could be harmful?
Preserve passion fruits in jam form. The secret to a fantastic day is simple: get up and have some bread with passion fruit jam on it. Having some passion fruit first thing in the morning can only lead to a happy day. Or, you might prepare some passion fruit cordial. Rather than reaching for a bottle of traditional raspberry cordial, try this drink that will transport you to a sandy beach in the dead of winter. A delicious combination is passion fruit and yogurt. Why not add some passion fruit flesh to your Greek yogurt for a dash of exotic flavor? It will provide a sugary kick to the yogurt and make you happy dance.
Best Ever Recipes With Passion Fruit
Passion fruit and White Chocolate Muffins
Passionfruit is a popular ingredient in many Australian dishes, from the traditional pavlova to wasabi-infused salad dressing. It's not surprising that Australian muffins are stuffed full of stuff. White chocolate and raspberries are a great pairing because the fruit's tartness is well countered by the chocolate's creamy smoothness.
Mango, Kiwi, and Passion Fruit Porridge
You can never go wrong with porridge for breakfast. It has plenty of filling grains and doesn't cost much. Too often, we stick with the same boring condiments.
Have you eaten cinnamon sugar and raisins more than once this week?
Fill that bowl to the brim with vibrant, fresh fruit and prepare for a flavor bomb. The best thing is that you only need to cut up your mango and kiwi and remove the passion fruit pulp with a spoon. On top of it, I like to sprinkle some toasted coconut.
Passion Fruit Juice
It's important to use ripe fruit when preparing passion fruit juice at home. This fruit, about the size of a golf ball, is ready when its purple skin becomes wrinkled and practically shriveled. You'll need a lot of passion fruits to get a decent amount of juice because they're so little. If you counted properly, twenty would get two gallons.
Pulp, seeds, and all will need to be blended for several minutes with water, therefore a good blender is essential for this recipe. Juice can be sweetened to taste using simple syrup or agave. The last step is to strain the liquid using a fine-mesh strainer before putting it in the fridge to chill.
Avocado Chicken Salad Recipe with Passion Fruit Vinaigrette
Don't bother with the next course if you don't like both savory and sweet foods. This salad has it all: crunchy onions, juicy tomatoes, tender chicken, smooth avocado, and the tangy, delicious dressing made from passion fruit. All you have to do to make the dressing is mix some extra virgin olive oil, apple cider vinegar, passionfruit pulp, dijon mustard, honey, garlic, and salt & pepper to taste.
You can exclude the seeds if you choose (though I believe they provide great texture here) by substituting concentrated, unsweetened juice. But you should keep in mind that you might need to tweak some of the other components.
Passion Fruit Lemonade
With its pleasing balance of sweet and sour notes and its icy coolness, lemonade is a classic summer drink. I find the sourness to be too much on its alone, so I mix mine with sweeter fruit. And since raspberries are my favorite of the berry group, I use them nearly exclusively for their aesthetic and edible value in dishes.
But you have to admit, this passion fruit recipe seems too tempting to pass up. Even though passion fruit still has a hint of tartness, you won't feel the need to add as much sugar. Some of the fresh passion fruit pulp will settle to the bottom if you don't mix it before serving.
Passion Fruit Cupcakes for Valentine’s Day with White Chocolate Frosting
Coconut milk, passion fruit pulp, and vanilla form the foundation of these delicious cupcakes. So, it's deliciously sugary, lusciously luscious, and wonderfully moist. This will be added to the batter in stages, alternating with a plain flour mixture. I recommend using a spatula unless you're preparing a very large quantity. Don't overmix; instead, fold ingredients together until they're just combined. This is what keeps them from becoming too heavy.
Easy Passion Fruit Bars
At my previous book group, I served these but didn't mention that they were passion fruit. My buddies nonetheless eagerly accepted a piece, thinking they were regular lemon bars. Their expressions changed, and they seemed incredibly happy.
Are these passion fruit, I wonder?" I laughed and nodded as I saw everyone get out their cameras and selfie sticks. Everybody got two pieces, and the tray was gone in a flash.
Vegan Coconut Mango Passion Fruit Popsicles
In other words, have you joined the homemade popsicle bandwagon? Put your faith in me; you won't regret it. Putting all the time and energy required to create something as tasty as this is well worth it.
The contrasting colors and the scattered seeds give these a stunning appearance, and they also happen to be extremely delicious and simple to create. Mango is used to balance out the tartness of the passion fruit layer (and to help keep the cost down). Make this ahead of time and freeze it before proceeding.
Once the layer of yellow fruit has set, you may make the coconut layer and pour it on top; this will become the bottom when you invert the bars. However, if you'd rather have a single, delicious, creamy, fruity popsicle without the double layer, feel free to combine all the ingredients and freeze as directed.
Passion Fruit Cake With Passion Fruit Syrup
Uninitiated bakers stand a 50/50 chance of success when attempting to make a bundt cake. You must first make sure the tin is well-greased. For this, I always have a pastry brush handy and use melted butter or oil. That way, you may examine every nook and cranny.
Next, it's crucial to eliminate any surplus oil that could otherwise seep into your cake and ruin its texture. Flip the pan over so it can drain while you prepare the batter. Finally, always sprinkle flour within, then spoon your batter inside rather than spilling it out of the bowl.
Oh, and don't forget the glaze, syrup, or icing; without it, a bundt cake just isn't a bundt cake. This cake is best served with the syrup mentioned in the recipe. For an additional splash of color, you can use a simple glaze made from coconut milk and powdered sugar.
Passion Fruit Pudding Cake
Just in case you haven't tried one before, a self-saucing recipe is essentially a cake that, when cooked, creates a delectable sauce directly under the sponge. Rum, lime zest, lime juice, and passion fruit puree are included in the cake dough.
This cake's airy texture comes from the incorporation of beaten egg whites. The bottom is a delicious custard made possible by baking in a water bath, which prevents overbaking.
Raspberry & Passion Fruit Greek Yogurt Granola
I find that yogurt goes particularly well with fruits that have a higher acidity level. The contrast between the creamy creaminess and the crisp, fresh fruit flavors is just perfect. This meal is quite risky because it also contains crispy dark chocolate granola and chopped pistachios. You'll want more than one bowl, believe me. Put a dollop of this pistachio butter in there for some extra wonderful nuttiness.
The Blushing Cuban (A Passionfruit Raspberry Cocktail)
To be quite forthright, I will say that I did not enjoy this mixed drink. What a fantastic read!
Passion fruit, raspberry, and rum? I had to get up from my computer the second I read that combination. On a Wednesday at 3:30 p.m., this could still be considered "research," right? This beverage is not only visually appealing, but also delicious, sugary, and appropriately fruity.
Despite their respective tartness, raspberry and passion fruit complement one another beautifully. Take heed: this is the recipe you should make above all others.
Banana Passion Fruit Smoothie
Mango and passion fruit both have strong tastes. As a result, combining them in a smoothie is a certain method of stimulating your senses. Try this recipe for mellow bananas if you want the wonderful passion fruit flavor without the heaviness. If you only have passion fruit juice, use frozen bananas for the milk to achieve the desired consistency.
Passion Fruit and Pineapple Sangria
I feel obligated to forewarn you that it will be difficult to return to boring wine and stale red berry sangria after trying this. You'll need a sweeter wine to counteract the sourness of the pineapple and passion fruit. The bubbly nature of Prosecco is a major draw for me. However, Moscato or cava will do in a pinch. To maintain its fizz, ginger beer is added.
Mango Passion Fruit Smoothie
Mango, passion fruit juice and coconut milk give this smoothie a vibrant, sour, and sweet flavor that's perfect for a sunny day. Tropical fruit is a luxury not everyone can afford. The lack of a mango season means that I often have to settle with canned mango slices even though I prefer the fresh variety. That's okay by me, by the way.
Most passion fruit drinks are extremely high in sugar, which is not how you want to begin your day. Find the unsweetened, concentrated juice instead. If you can't get it fresh, passion fruit pulp can be found in the freezer department.
Potential Downsides Of Passion Fruit
However, a small percentage of the population may experience allergic reactions when consuming passion fruit. Latex-sensitive people also appear to be at increased risk for developing an allergy to passion fruit. Some people may be allergic to the fruit because its plant proteins share structural similarities with proteins found in latex.
The cyanogenic glycosides found in purple passion fruit skin may also have anti-cancer properties. A big enough quantity of them can be dangerous because they react with enzymes to create cyanide. The fruit itself is edible, but the tough peel is normally discarded.
Conclusion
Passion fruit is a delicious and healthy option for a snack. Passion fruit is a wonderful complement to a healthy, well-balanced diet because it is low in calories while yet providing a wealth of beneficial nutrients, fiber, and antioxidants.
